petty sessions

American  

noun

English Law.

1. a court of summary jurisdiction for minor offenses that is held without a jury.

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petty sessions British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) another term for magistrates' court

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Example Sentences

Up to this the feeling of all in court had been unmistakably in her favor, but now, as in the petty sessions, the knowledge that she had laughed turned the current of sympathy from her.

From The Broom-Squire by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)

He accordingly paid a visit to the magistrates in petty sessions assembled at H——, and a dialogue somewhat like the following took place.

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony

Thus the land-war rages at every board of guardians, in every dispensary, in every grand jury room, at every petty sessions, in every county court, in every public institution throughout the kingdom.

From The Land-War In Ireland (1870) A History For The Times by Godkin, James

Three days afterwards, at petty sessions, where Tom brought upon himself the severe censure of the bench for his conduct on the trial, Harry Winburn was committed to Reading gaol for three months.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Hughes, Thomas

Ireland, home, Dodsborough, petty sessions, police and poor-rates, county cess, Chancery, all my difficulties, down even to Mrs. D. herself, faded away, and left me in undisturbed and unbounded enjoyment.

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. I by Lever, Charles James